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[color=00FCD8]“He is insufferable!”[/color] Aster threw open the door to the kitchen dramatically, savoring the [i]bang[/i] as it hit the wall. [color=00FCD8] “I gave him a 53. A 53, can you believe it?! Because I was trying to be [i]nice[/i]. To be [i]reasonable.[/i] To make someone [i]happy[/i] that a person such as myself even bothered to spare the energy to inflate their score! And then he just [i]dusted[/i]. He didn't even care where the dust went! Windows? Who cares. Floor boards? May as well be dirt. What does the golden retriever see in him?!”[/color] 

Marco looked up from griddle, where he had been working on cleaning some stubborn stains, and up to Aster as he burst in. He sighed softly and then thought through whom Aster could be talking about, and then landed on Demi. [color=purple]”Good to see you again so soon, Aster. And really? Is he insufferable, or is it that he just doesn’t come from the same circle as you?”[/color] He set down the scraper he had been using, and leaned up against the counter. He was thankful the mac and cheese was in the oven, as he was sure his friend might be a little hungry.

[color=00FCD8] “[i]Obviously[/i] insufferable. Spend an hour cleaning with him and you'll see. Also, pencil in a spa day after this. Apparently, he isn't aware of the spa either. He mocked cucumbers. [I]Cucumbrs![/i] Like my eyes don't deserve pampering as much as the rest of me.”[/color] Aster popped back up onto a counter, swinging his feet as he did. [color=00FCD8] “I'm going to go all out on it too. He's going to spa like he's ever spa'd before! And definitely will need massages. Probably two, different focus areas I think. Right? That definitely makes sense.”[/color] 

[color=purple]”Aster, please remember I didn’t have my first spa day until after we met. Some people really don’t have the same means. But I’ll pencil in a spa day after all this is over, happily.”[/color] Marco looked over at Aster and then raised his eyebrow and then snorted a bit. [color=purple]”It sounds like you actually do like him, because you don’t offer spa days to just anyone.”[/color] He knew the teasing might backfire a bit, but his friend was being a bit judgemental. 

Aster's jaw dropped. [color=00FCD8] “Like him? Has the outside weather already gotten to you? Are you ill?”[/color] Aster hopped off the counter, pressing his hand to Marco's forehead. [color=00FCD8]“No, you seem just as normal as ever. How else was I to educate him? I can't very well just ignore him. We're stuck out in this purgatory for God knows how long and you want me to get on his bad side? Ugh, then the dog boy will bark at me, then that girl that came with him will probably yell at me, you'll say something about making friends and treating people right, and I just can't stomach all that.”[/color] Aster sighed. 

[color=00FCD8]“And yes while you may have been ignorant before we met, at least you've been willing to see the light. These others seem intent on staying ignorant of the true meaning of life.”[/color] Aster paused for a moment as his reflection caught in some metal and he sighed happily. 

Marco could only roll his eyes a bit and then snorted softly but covered it up with a cough. [color=purple]”Willing to see the light, sure. But c’mon Aster, it’s not even been a full day and you’re giving up on them? I’m sure they’ll come around more with time.”[/color] He finally looked over at Aster and caught that happy sigh. [color=purple]”Okay, what was that about?”[/color]

[color=00FCD8] “Hm? Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the view.”[/color] Aster turned away from the reflection with difficulty and blinked as he processed Marco's statement. [color=00FCD8]“You know I have no patience for these things but if you think they are worth the effort, then I suppose I ought to extend them a touch more grace than I already have. Perhaps you are right, my friend. Maybe they'll come around - Demi the very least seemed interested in bonding. He seemed adamant that we all go swimming shortly. I doubt he'll remember, but he mentioned he was going to pick up you and the dog.”[/color] 

[color=purple]”Swimming? Perhaps after lunch. Which is in the oven before you ask. And I think you should extend some grace. Remember, we’re all stuck here together, and we don’t even [i]know[/i] what the other counselors or campers are like yet.”[/color] Marco wasn’t sure if he quite agreed with Aster’s nicknames just yet, but he hadn’t spent a lot of time with Demi, Zeke and Nancy. 

He leaned over to check the oven and smiled a bit as he went to pull out the first pan. [color=purple]”It’s not quite how I would make it, but thankfully, they had real cheese, not those weird plastic squares they call cheese.”[/color]

[color=00FCD8]“Fine. I suppose I will graciously extend some degree of patience and understanding.”[/color] It clearly took a lot for Aster to say that and he took a moment to recover, fanning himself with his hand. [color=00FCD8]“And this had better not be because you are interested in getting in their beds. I heard that when we first pulled up.”[/color]

Aster frowned at Marco's comment. [color=00FCD8]“What do you mean, plastic squares? Do people eat plastic cheese?”[/color] Aster wrinkled his nose in distaste. 

[color=purple]”No, no. No interest. If they just started dating I’m not intruding on that. Also you heard that? I had hoped I was being subtle.”[/color] Marco hoped that Demi and Zeke hadn’t heard him in that case, because if that was the case that would be super awkward later. 

[color=purple]”As for the plastic squares, from what I understand, Americans wrap cheese slices in plastic and it tastes like plastic. According to my dad. Thankfully, I’ve never tried that stuff.”[/color] Marco  set the pan down and then went to pull out the second pan of mac. 

Aster gave Marco the most judgemental look he could muster. [color=00FCD8]“Honey, that was as subtle as an elephant. The fact that they didn't notice is astonishing.”[/color] Aster poked his head over towards the mac and cheese, taking a deep breath at the smell. [color=00FCD8] “That does sound atrocious. I'm very glad we don't have to stuff that indignity on top of everything else. Your food smells delicious.”[/color] 

[color=00FCD8] “But will my pores agree?”[/color] Aster fretted, chewing his lip thoughtfully as he imagined all the sticky, cheesy goodness that was probably terrible for his skin. 

Marco pouted at Aster’s look and then rolled his eyes. [color=purple]”As long as you make sure to wash your face tonight, it will be alright. But do understand I’m limited by what’s here, and there’s a lot of preprepared food here, or panty stable food. Stuff that’s going to last. I’ll try to get something better for us during the week, but it might not be better over the summer.”[/color] Marco sighed softly as he went to pull out some hot dogs. [color=purple]”I’m gonna fry these up real quick. Do you want any for your mac and cheese?”[/color]

Aster wrinkled his nose at the thought of preprepared. That was poor people's options, like canned soup and salty, freeze dried noodles. Things Aster wouldn't normally touch with a 30ft pole but their tyrants would find any method to demean and undermine them. [color=00FCD8] “I suppose I have no choice in the matter. I'll have to be meticulous with my routine during this trial. Between the sweating I'll have to do and poor food options, no matter how delicious you may make them, I'll survive this. These monsters would see me fail, find any way to put a pimple on my face, but I will not permit them this victory.”[/color] Aster tilted his head at the question. 

[color=00FCD8] “I don't think I really understand what those are. I know hot dogs are food but I've never had one.”[/color] 

[color=purple]”...I’ll put down one for you, but if you decide you don’t want it, I’m sure someone else will eat it.”[/color] Marco sliced open the package and then put a few of the hot dogs down on the griddle and started to cook. He listened to Astor as he spoke about keeping up his routine, between the food and the sweating. He looked over at his friend and then sighed more. 

[color=purple]”If anyone can keep away the pimples, it’s you. But well, you know that the real monsters aren’t here. They’re out there. In the real world.”[/color] Marco sighed as he gently rolled the hot dogs around the grill, and sighed a bit more as he cooked.

Aster frowned at the sudden shift in his friend's mood. [color=00FCD8]“How do you suppose? What monsters are you referring to?”[/color] Aster wrinkled his nose at the smell of hot dogs. They seemed so… unappealing. This was what the cat wanted in his food? Why yearn for something so… questionable meat shaped rather than a nice cut of brisket? Now that was a delicious combination.

Marco gently pushed the hot dogs around on the grill and then plastered his smile back on his face. [color=purple]”Forget I said anything Aster. But it seems you’re not a fan of the hot dogs. Someone can eat the one I made for you then. I don’t want to waste food.”[/color] He chuckled as he started pulling the cooked hot dogs off the griddle.